“Oh, yes!” cried Betty.  “That is one of my favourite stories.  I have read it twenty times, I am sure, and told it to Davy until he almost knows it by heart.”

“I wish you would tell it to Lloyd, please.  She has never heard it, and I want to illustrate it for her after awhile.”

The little girl willingly dropped down into a big chair full of cushions, and with her finger still marking the place in the book, Betty began the story: 

“Once upon a time, near a castle in a lonely wood, there lived an orphan maiden named Olga.  She would have been all alone in the world had it not been for an old woman who befriended her.  This woman was an old flax-spinner, and lived in a humble thatched cottage near the castle.  She had taken pity on Olga when the little orphan was a helpless baby, and so kind had she always been that Olga had grown to maidenhood without feeling the lack of father, mother, brother, or sister.  In all ways the old flax spinner had taken their places.

“Every morning Olga carried water from the spring, gathered the wild fruits of the woods, and spread the linen on the grass to bleach.  This she did to help the old woman, for she had a good and grateful heart as well as a beautiful face.

“One day as Olga was wandering by the spring, searching for watercresses, the young prince of the castle rode by on his prancing charger.  A snow-white plume waved in his hat, and a shining silver bugle hung from his shoulder, for he had been following the chase.

“He was thirsty and tired, and asked for a drink, but there was no cup from which to dip the water from the spring.  But Olga caught the drops as they bubbled out from the spring, holding it in the hollow of her beautiful white hands, and, reaching up to where he sat, offered him the sparkling water.  So gracefully was it done that the prince was charmed by her lovely face and modest manner, and, baring his head, when he had slaked his thirst he touched the white hands with his lips.

“Before he rode away he asked her name and where she lived.  The next day a courier in scarlet and gold stopped at the door of the cottage and invited Olga to the castle.  Princesses and royal ladies from all over the realm were to be entertained there, seven days and seven nights.  Every night a grand ball was to be given, and Olga was summoned to each of the balls.  It was on account of her pleasing manner and her great beauty that she had been bidden.

“The old flax-spinner curtsied low to the courier and promised that Olga should be at the castle without fail.

“‘But, good dame,’ cried Olga when the courier had gone, ’prithee tell me why thou didst make such a promise, when thou knowest full well this gown of tow is all I own?  Wouldst have me stand before the prince in beggar’s garb?  Better to bide at home for aye than be put to shame before such guests.’

“‘Have done, my child,’ the old dame said.  ’Thou shalt wear a court robe of the finest.  Years have I toiled to give it thee, but that is naught.  I loved thee as my own.’